Estimating the Post-mortem Interval Using Black Larder Beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae): A Case Study of Cats Abandoned Indoors in Daegu, Korea

Black larder beetles prefer to feed on decomposing animal bodies, particularly those that are dried. When conditions dry and warm, these often appear in large numbers dried carcasses. In our case, the carcasses of several cats were found nearly skeletonized at a villa Daegu Metropolitan City July 13, 2022. There very few empty pupae Lucilia sericata (Meigen) villa, but many adult black beetles, larvae, larval cast skin (exuviae) (<i>Dermestes haemorrhoidalis</i> Küster) belonging family (Dermestidae) found. We estimated minimum post-mortem interval be 44.5 days using temperature data from nearest meteorological observatory reported carcass decomposition Dermestidae developmental rates. Police investigation confirmed alive least 3 months ago. Consequently, neglected could not have been deceased for more than months. As result, estimate closely matched statement suspect.